List of quadrangles on Mercury

The surface of the planet Mercury has been divided into fifteen quadrangles, designated H-1 to H-15 (the 'H' stands for Hermes, the Greek equivalent of Mercury).[1] The quadrangles are named for prominent surface features visible within each area.[1] The quadrangles were initially named for albedo features, as these were the most prominent features visible before mapping was carried out by spacecraft. The mapping carried out with the images obtained by the Mariner 10 flybys in 1974 and 1975 led to nine of the quadrangles being renamed for newly mapped prominent features.[1] The remaining six quadrangles were completely unmapped by Mariner 10 and were still referred to by their albedo feature names. Following the arrival of MESSENGER in orbit in 2011, these six quadrangles were mapped and renamed.[2]

Name[3]NumberNamesakeAlbedo feature name[4]Area[5]Mariner 10 mapCurrent map[3]Notes
BorealisH-1Borealis Planitia[6]BoreaNorth pole to 67° latitudeH-1Provisionally called "Goethe", but renamed by the International Astronomical Union in 1976 (IAU, 1977).[5]
VictoriaH-2Victoria RupesAurora0 to 90° longitude, 21 to 66° latitudeH-2
ShakespeareH-3Shakespeare craterCaduceata90 to 180° longitude, 21 to 66° latitudeH-3
RaditladiH-4Raditladi BasinLiguria270 to 180° longitude, 21 to 66° latitudenoneH-4
HokusaiH-5Hokusai craterApollonia360 to 270° longitude, 21 to 66° latitudenoneH-5
KuiperH-6Kuiper craterTricrena0 to 72° longitude, −22 to 22° latitudeH-6
BeethovenH-7Beethoven craterSolitudo Lycaonis72 to 144° longitude, −22 to 22° latitudeH-7
TolstojH-8Tolstoj craterPhaethontias144 to 216° longitude, −22 to 22° latitudeH-8Provisionally called "Tir", but renamed by the International Astronomical Union in 1976 (IAU, 1977).[5]
EminescuH-9Eminescu craterSolitudo Criophori216 to 288° longitude, −22 to 22° latitudenoneH-9
DerainH-10Derain craterPieria288 to 360° longitude, –22 to 22° latitudenoneH-10
DiscoveryH-11Discovery Rupes[6]Solitudo Hermae Trismegisti0 to 90° longitude, −21 to −66° latitudeH-11
MichelangeloH-12Michelangelo craterSolitudo Promethei90 to 180° longitude, −21 to -66° latitudeH-12
NerudaH-13Neruda craterSolitudo Persephones180 to 270° longitude, −21 to –66° latitudenoneH-13
DebussyH-14Debussy craterCyllene270 to 360° longitude, −21 to −66° latitudenoneH-14
BachH-15Bach craterAustraliaSouth pole to −67° latitudeH-15

Schema of the quadrangles

Relationship of the quadrangles to each other on the surface of Mercury (North is at the top):[5]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Strom, Robert G.; Sprague, Ann L. (2003). Exploring Mercury: The Iron Planet. p. 79.
  2. "IAU Information Bulletin" (pdf) (108). International Astronomical Union. July 2011: 23.
  3. 1 2 "1:5 Million-Scale Maps of Mercury". Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature (USGS/IAU/NASA). Retrieved 2013-09-19.
  4. "SP-423 Atlas of Mercury". NASA. p. 21. Retrieved 2013-09-19.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Schaber, Gerald G.; John F. McCauley (1980). Geologic Map of the Tolstoj (H-8) Quadrangle of Mercury (PDF). U.S. Geological Survey. USGS Miscellaneous Investigations Series Map I–1199, as part of the Atlas of Mercury, 1:5,000,000 Geologic Series. Retrieved 2007-11-12.
  6. 1 2 "SP-423 Atlas of Mercury". NASA. Retrieved 2007-11-12.
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